Taxi drivers’ protest in Cape Town against Uber turns violent and 15 arrested

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Friday, 15 July 2016 13:19

Cape Argus reports that 15 metered-taxi drivers were arrested on Thursday after participating in a protest in Cape Town against the Uber taxi service. The drivers called the Uber taxis “illegal” and demanded that Transport MEC Donald Grant should remove them.

About 150 metered taxis blocked Long Street in the CBD. Fifteen drivers were arrested on charges of public disorder. David Drummond, the spokesman for the metered-taxi industry, said they had tried in vain to obtain answers from Grant’s office. “Our lawyers are at Caledon Square and trying to arrange their release,” said Drummond, who also owns a fleet in Table View with 40 drivers. “We feel the police were unnecessarily rough.